Reunion After 13 Years. #7 and #71
Editor (Na)
This article is participating in Vissel Kobe Various Things 2023 Advent Calendar 2023.
Thank you for the invitation, Negigirai® Road to Asia @vissel_lovekobe. I’m sorry it’s late.
#7 and #71
In 2010, before the final round, the KOBE AWAY PRESS editorial team was preparing to publish #7. It was the Urawa match at Saitama Stadium. To avoid relegation, we had to beat the strong opponent Urawa and wait for the result of FC Tokyo vs Kyoto.
How many Kobe supporters would gather for this match that would determine the club’s fate? KOBE AWAY PRESS, which started in March of that year, printed 500 copies each time. Some issues were distributed completely, while others had low attendance or couldn’t distribute smoothly and ended up with leftovers. For #7, how many copies should we prepare? Let’s prepare double the usual amount. Let’s prepare 1,000 copies.
In such circumstances, the club’s distribution permission email contained the phrase “It seems like quite a lot of Kobe supporters will gather.” After that, there were reports of 5 tour buses from Kobe? Ticket sales seemed to exceed 1,000. No, it’s 1,400, 1,800 sold out. Amid the constantly incoming information, we urgently decided to print an additional 1,000 copies. Total 2,000 copies. Since this couldn’t be distributed by the usual number of people, the distribution team was all hands on deck with editorial staff and we received cooperation from various people.
And on the day. The away section was packed, and the prepared papers flew into supporters’ hands. As a result, I think we were able to deliver to many of the supporters who attended. We were also able to deliver to players who participated in the pre-match supporter meeting.
13 years later. November 2023. The match at Saitama Stadium became a match where both clubs’ fates were at stake. If Urawa lost this match, their championship would disappear. For Kobe, considering the points difference with 2nd place Yokohama F. Marinos, this was a match they absolutely had to win. Tickets sold out quickly. It was certain that the away section would be filled. We prepared 1,500 copies. We increased the number to share the passion with as many people as possible.
For those who don’t know about 13 years ago, it might not resonate, but this big match at Saitama Stadium during this period inevitably connects to that match. While thinking it’s nostalgic, I deliberately made the title the same as #7. As a result, I think it became a paper where you could feel the club’s history.
In recent years, stadium distribution hasn’t been going well, and irregularity has increased, but I plan to continue publishing next year. There’s also the goal of overseas away games that we couldn’t do last time. If possible, I would be happy if you could continue to accompany KOBE AWAY PRESS in the future. Thank you for your continued support.
KOBE AWAY PRESS insider (Na)